EARLEY TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of Earley Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley, Berkshire on Wednesday, 25th June 2008 which commenced at 8.20 pm.
Chairman – The Mayor, Councillor A Bradley
Councillors Mrs A Ames, J Armstrong, Mrs L Chambers, T Chambers, Ms T Christidis (from 8.45 pm), M Deegan, Ms P Dunn, C Edmunds, M Firmager, G Hughes, N Jorgensen, Mrs P Jorgensen, S Khan, K Miall, Ms C Mitchell, N Preston and P Willis.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Chopping (holiday), W Gothard (holiday), T Holton (WBC meeting), Mrs J Lissaman (WBC meeting), T Maher and G Woods.
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22. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the Annual Meeting of Earley Town Council held on 7th May 2008 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
23. PETITION
The Town Clerk confirmed that he had received a petition opposing the Town Council’s proposals to create a cycle track on the open space at Paddick Drive. He confirmed that the petition contained 227 signatures, however, 11 of those signatures were not valid since 2 had been signed per procurationem, 8 had been signed by children, and one contained an e-mail address. It was
RESOLVED that the petition be received and forwarded to the Amenities & Leisure Committee.
24. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Mayor advised that he had received an invitation from the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire to attend at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley on 10th July when the Queen’s Award presentation would be made to representatives of JAC.
The Mayor reported that he had attended a Service of Thanksgiving at Reading Minster to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the setting up of the Territorial Army.
The Mayor advised that he had received a letter from the Right Honourable John Redwood MP which included an attachment from a family expressing concern at the Town Council’s proposals to provide a cycle track in Paddick Drive.
25. TOWN COUNCIL COMMITTEES
25.1 Planning Committee
25.1.1 Meeting of 13th May 2008
The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 13th May 2008 were presented by the Committee Chairman, Councillor Mrs P Jorgensen. A Member present expressed concern at the resolution contained at Minute 7.1 where it was resolved that the Town Council should not raise any further objection to the Woodley Area Cumulative Traffic Impact Study, but should pay special attention to the Borough Council’s Draft Core Strategy. Councillors were advised that the Draft Core Strategy was shortly due to be presented to the Borough Council’s Executive, and that, following which, there will be a period of consultation.
On the proposition of Councillor Mrs P Jorgensen, seconded by Councillor J Armstrong, it was
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 13th May 2008 (Minutes 1 – 13) be adopted.
25.1.2 Meeting of 10th June 2008
In presenting the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th June 2008, the Committee Chairman, Councillor Mrs P Jorgensen, drew particular attention to Minute 15 which recorded the very useful discussions with the Borough Council’s Executive Member for Highways and Transport, Councillor Keith Baker. Councillor Mrs Jorgensen also drew attention to Minute 20.1, and was pleased to report that, in a press release from the University, the concerns raised in respect of the possible closure of the pedestrian access from Wilderness Road would be investigated further.
With regard to Item 20, relating to the proposed redevelopment of the Whiteknights Campus, a Member present indicated that he had received a letter from the University inviting him to attend a further consultation on the proposals. It was confirmed that details of the letter would be published on the agenda for the forthcoming Planning Committee meeting.
On the proposition of Councillor Mrs P Jorgensen, seconded by Councillor T Chambers it was
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th June 2008 (Minutes 14 – 25) be approved.
25.2 Amenities & Leisure Committee
In the absence of the Committee Chairman, the minutes of the meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee held on 21st May 2008 were presented by the Committee Vice-Chairman, Councillor M Firmager.
Concern was expressed that the wording under point 4 of the Resolution at Minute 10 may be misinterpreted, and, on the proposition of Councillor K Miall, seconded by Councillor T Chambers it was
RESOLVED that Point 4 of Minute 10 be re-worded to read “The plans for the site be submitted to the Wokingham Borough Council Planning Committee at the appropriate time.”
Councillors’ attention was then drawn to the recommendation at Minute 8.1 concerning the choice of brick colour for the proposed new pavilion at Sol Joel Park. Councillors were reminded that the recommendation was for option C, a yellow brick, to be used. Following a question from a Member, it was confirmed that brick samples would be made available before a final choice was made.
On the proposition of Councillor M Firmager, seconded by Councillor K Miall, it was
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee held on 21st May 2008 (Minutes 1 – 15), as amended, be approved and the recommendation at Minute 8.1 be adopted.
25.3 Policy & Resources Committee
In presenting the minutes of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on 4th June 2008, the Committee’s Vice-Chairman, Councillor S Khan, drew particular attention to the very useful presentation from Lower Earley Community Responders, details of which were recorded at Minute 4.3, and which led to the Committee approving a grant of £400.
On the proposition of Councillor S Khan, seconded by Councillor C Edmunds, it was
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held on 4th June 2008 (Minutes 1-13) be approved.
Councillors received and noted the minutes of the Annual Town Electors' Meeting held on 7th May 2008.
27. REPRESENTATIVES TO OTHER BODIES
Councillors’ attention was drawn to the sad passing of Mr A Eastwood, a former Councillor, and Members observed a minute’s silence in his memory.
27.1 Appointments
Following Mr Eastwood’s death, Councillors were advised that it was necessary to appoint a representative to stand on the Sonning & District Educational & Welfare Trusts. On the proposition of Councillor C Edmunds, seconded by Councillor N Preston, it was
RESOLVED that Councillor Ms P Dunn be appointed as the Town Council’s representative on the two trusts.
27.2 Reports of Representatives
Councillor Mrs A Ames reported on her recent attendance at the meeting of the Kenton Road Day Centre Management Committee. She reported that there were currently 15 members on the Day Centre’s Committee, and that the finances of the Centre were in a healthy condition. She continued by saying that the current condition of the car park at the Centre was causing concern, as it was sinking, and was becoming a health and safety problem, and its refurbishment had been made a priority for this year.
With regard to the Town Council’s proposal to consider installing equipment at Sol Joel Park for older residents, Councillor Mrs Ames said that members of the Day Centre had indicated interest in this.
28. WOKINGHAM PARISH/TOWN CHARTER
Councillors were advised that the Borough/Parish Conference Working Group had been working on a Revised Wokingham Borough Council and Parish/Town Charter. The current Charter was adopted in 1999 and was an agreement between the then Wokingham District Council and the Wokingham District Association of Local Councils. The Executive of the Borough Council had agreed that the modified Charter be consulted upon with the Town and Parish Councils.
A copy of the Draft Charter had been circulated with the agenda for Councillors’ consideration, and it was noted that comments were required by 1st August. It was
RESOLVED that the Draft Charter be considered at a meeting of the Standing Orders Working Party, and that Councillors J Armstrong and Mrs P Jorgensen, as the Town Council’s representatives on the Borough/Parish Conference Working Group, be invited to attend the meeting.
29. TOWN PLAN
Details of the amendments which had been made to the Town Plan were given to the meeting. Aside from some typographical errors which were highlighted, the only amendment to the Plan was on page 14, in relation to bullet point 1 which referred to the possibility of twinning with a similar town, it was requested that “at no expense to the Council Tax payer” should be added. It was
30. ORDERS FOR PAYMENT
It was
RESOLVED that the various accounts as set out in a list attached to these minutes (Vouchers 99 – 126) be paid in the sums as stated and details of the Imprest Account (Vouchers 022 – 038) be noted.
31. PUBLICATIONS
It was noted that the following had been received and were available for perusal in the Council Offices:
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Wokingham Borough Council: |
Agenda and Summons for Annual Meeting of the Council held on 22nd May 2008. The Town & Parish News – May 2008. Minutes of Committee Meetings for the period from 11th March to 11th June 2008. Agenda for Meeting of the Executive to be held on 26th June 2008. Agenda for Meeting of The Council to be held on 26th June 2008. Draft Statement of Accounts 2007/08.
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Maiden Erlegh Residents' Association: |
Minutes of 44th Annual General Meeting held on 8th May 2008. Minutes of the meeting held on 12th June 2008.
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The Earley Charity: |
Report for 2007. |
32. PRESS RELEASES
It was
RESOLVED that the attendance of numerous residents from Paddick Drive and Chesterment Way at the Town Forum to discuss the Council’s proposals for a cycle track in Lower Earley and the dignified and courteous manner in which the 35 minutes discussion was carried out in the Town Forum should receive special press attention.
33. TERMINATION OF MEETING
The meeting was declared closed by the Chairman at 9.25pm.